Trump Says Iranians Reached Out but It’s ‘Very Late to Be Talking’ as Israel-Iran Air War Enters Sixth Day
When asked if it was too late for negotiations, he said: "Nothing is too late."
The conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated into its sixth day, with Israeli airstrikes targeting key Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, including a centrifuge manufacturing site and missile production centers aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear weapons capability. Thousands of civilians have fled Tehran following overnight bombings, with human rights groups reporting at least 585 deaths and over 1,300 injuries across Iran due to the strikes.
President Donald Trump has publicly demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” calling Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei an “easy target” and warning that U.S. patience is wearing thin.
Trump revealed that Iranian officials had reached out, even suggesting sending a delegation to the White House, but he stated it was “very late to be talking” amid ongoing hostilities.
He remains undecided on whether the U.S. will join Israel’s military campaign against Iran, saying, “I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do”.
Speaking as he watched the installation of a new flagpole at the White House, Trump added that his patience “had already run out” with Iran and repeated his call for the Islamic Republic’s “unconditional surrender.”
When asked if it was too late for negotiations, he said: “Nothing is too late.”
Trump issued a series of bellicose statements on social media on Tuesday, saying that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was an “easy target” and calling for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”.
When asked on Wednesday what he meant by his earlier statement, Trump replied: “Two very simple words. It’s very simple — unconditional surrender.”
“That means I’ve had it, okay? I’ve had it. I give up, no more, we go and blow up all the nuclear stuff that’s all over the place,” Trump said.
On the other hand, Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei rejected Trump’s ultimatum, calling it “unacceptable” and warning that any U.S. military involvement would cause “irreparable harm” to Americans. Iranian officials dismissed Trump’s claim about seeking talks, stating no Iranian has requested to “plead at the gates of the White House.”
Iran vowed to respond forcefully to any American intervention, with its foreign ministry warning that U.S. interference would trigger a full-scale regional war.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Middle East by deploying additional fighter jets and extending other aircraft deployments, signaling preparation for a possible greater role.
However, Israeli officials have not formally requested U.S. military involvement, preferring to proceed with their own plans.
